NCAR Highlights

For the latest news releases, as well as fact sheets on NCAR science, lists of experts in NCAR’s various research fields, multi-media (movies, visualizations, illustrations, and photos), and recent press clippings visit the NCAR & UCAR News Center.

Feature Stories

In today’s highly carbon-dependent world, human activity is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. From everyday choices about transportation, land use and management, to basic cultural norms, all contribute to both individual and, collectively, national emissions. Within NCAR’s community, physical and social scientists are bringing essential understanding of the global, regional, and local Earth-system dynamics to bear on identifying the effects of rising concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions.

To meet the goals and objectives outlined in the NCAR strategic plan, the NCAR Earth System Laboratory (NESL) was dissolved on March 1, 2015, and its three internationally respected research divisions became the following three NCAR laboratories:

When it comes to conveying the excitement of a career in science to students, there is no substitute for direct interaction and involvement. Two years ago, the NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL), in collaboration with CLACE (Centro Latinoamericano para la Ciencia y Educacion) and its Nuestra Tierra Dinamica program, was awarded support from the NCAR Diversity Fund for “The NCAR Careers Diversity Project,” a series of activities designed to engage Latino and other K-12 students, and expose them to atmospheric research and related sciences.

Over the past 20 years, the effects of changing climate on indigenous people have increasingly grabbed the attention of the world’s decision makers and scientists. The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report on the impacts of climate change specifically considers how indigenous groups in different world regions will manage these changes, while the U.S. National Climate Assessment included for the first time a chapter devoted to these issues.

Most groups take pride in gaining recognition for their efforts. For the Health, Environment and Safety Services (HESS) at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), however, this is not the case. “Success is best measured by not being noticed by the institution, it means we’re doing our jobs,” says Milenda Powers the team’s manager.

In 2000, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame laid out a bold course of action for his nation to reach middle-income status by 2020.[1] Nicknamed “The Digital President,” Kagame’s plan focuses on Rwanda’s human capital, with special attention to its students, along with development of information technology and communications. Rwanda, and other African nations will require skilled scientists, technicians, engineers, and researchers to help these countries achieve their desired economic goals and intellectual capacity.

UCAR’s University Visits in Scientific Interaction and Teaching program launched in 2013, and the first participants are returning from their time with university partners. We checked in with Wen-Chau Lee, a senior scientist in the Earth Observing Laboratory who also manages EOL’s Remote Sensing Facility.

Humans and their emissions have an undeniable effect on global, regional, and local climate; however, natural climate variability introduces shades of gray into the prediction of future effects of climate change. Extreme events such as “Snowmageddon,” the series of blizzards that hit the U.S. East Coast in 2009-2010, or even Colorado’s cooler-than-normal 2013 summer demonstrate deviations from typical climate patterns.